For many people, when they hear of the baptism of Jesus as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, they ask the question: “why?” Why was Jesus, the sinless Son of God, baptized? The simple answer to this question is to show us the way. Because Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, we Christians are to follow Him and His example. Had He not been baptized, there would have been some Christians, who, attempting to model their lives on Christ’s, would have said, “as Jesus was not baptized, neither will we be baptized.” By being baptized Himself, Christ shows us the great hope that is ours through baptism. As the Holy Spirit is shown to come down on Jesus at His baptism, and He is declared Son of God at His baptism; so too in baptism we receive the Holy Spirit in baptism and become God’s children who are taught that we are to call God “Our Father” in prayer.

Two weeks ago, as he opened the Jubilee Year of “Pilgrims of Hope,” Cardinal Leo began the celebration at the Cathedral’s baptismal font. There, he blessed the water in the font and sprinkled those who were there with holy water. This action was intended to emphasize, during this Jubilee Year entitled “Pilgrims of Hope,” that our hope is founded in our baptisms and that the sacrament of baptism is where we begin our journey with, and to the Lord.

In baptism, what we see happening in today’s Gospel, happens to you and I. The Holy Spirit is poured into our hearts, we are cleansed of original sin, and become children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as the Father declares of Jesus, “You are my beloved Son,” so too we become His beloved daughters and sons through baptism. Once baptized, throughout the rest of eternity, the Lord is with us and we are invited to know of His love and respond to it. Knowing that we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and that God is always with us, is to be the reason for our hope, no matter what we face in life.

The first reading that we hear today from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, sheds some understanding on the kind of hope that the Lord wishes to offer us on our pilgrimage. This reading is taken from a portion of the Book of Isaiah that is know as the “Book of Consolation.” Here Isaiah is telling the people of Israel, who have been exiled to Babylon, that they will soon return to the city of Jerusalem, where they will once again return to living in God’s presence. As they will once again be in God’s presence, it will be as though every mountain and valley will be filled in and they will know smooth sailing from now on.

While I cannot be certain, I think the large banners that we have for the Jubilee Year have been designed with this passage of scripture from Isaiah in mind. The banners depict a winding path, with hills and valleys, which lead to a beautiful, warm, all encompassing sun. Our own lives—our own pilgrimages—can be like this image. At times, we may enter certain valleys, where mountains block out the warmth of the sun, and we feel we have been abandoned by God. And yet, God is always there. Knowing in faith that the Lord is there, even though we may not see Him, is what is to give us the strength to continue on our pilgrimage of hope.

Another image that Isaiah uses in today’s first reading is that of the Good Shepherd. Isaiah says, “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” As the prophet Isaiah speaks of the shepherd feeding his flock, we as Catholics are reminded that for us, the food that we have been given for our pilgrimage of hope is the Eucharist. Jesus gives us the gift of His Body and Blood as the food for our journey. The Eucharist is the presence of Christ always with us, making present to us what He did to reconcile us to His Father. If Christ would die for our sins, is there any chance that there is a sin that He would not forgive us? With Christ there is no person who is without hope. Anyone who repents will be forgiven. Jesus gives Himself to us on Sundays– even everyday if we wish –  in the Eucharist, so that we might always remember what He did to love us and that He is always with us. The Eucharist is something that Christ does for us so that we might know His love and respond hopefully to it.

In the Eucharist we also experience something very profound to which Isaiah also alludes. Isaiah speaks of the people of Israel returning to Jerusalem after their exile so that they might stand again in God’s presence. For the Jews, God dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem and they were in His presence when they dwelt in that holy city. We on the other hand do not need to go anywhere. Through the Holy Spirit, God comes to dwell in us, most especially in the Eucharist. God’s presence within us, through the Holy Spirit, making each of us a temple of the Holy Spirit, means that as He dwells in us, and never looses hope in us, neither should we lose hope in ourselves. Old or young, rich or poor, we are all God’s children and He always loves us.

I have always loved that in our parish the image of the Good Shepherd is hung over our tabernacle. This speaks to me of the way in which Jesus wishes to carry us through the trials of life. For many people, they think that the lamb that Jesus is carrying is a young lamb. I like to think that it could also be an older lamb, worn out by the journey; or perhaps one exhausted, sick, depressed or one who has lost hope. Sometimes it is only by abandoning our troubles and difficulties to the Lord that we come to the smooth sailing with Christ’s grace over and through the trials of life.

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the beginning of His public ministry so that we might understand what baptism is to mean for us. Having celebrated the joyful events of Christmas, we begin ordinary time reminded of what happened to each of us through our own baptisms. We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit and made children of God—brothers and sisters in Christ. In baptism, our sins have been forgiven and we have shared in the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ is the source of all our hope regardless of our situations. As I conclude this Sundays homily, I would like to do so by re-reading today’s second reading. As I do so, perhaps you might look at the banners for the pilgrimage of hope.

“Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.

When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life” (Titus 2:11-14; 3: 4-7)

Fr. Michael McGourty
Pastor- St. Peter’s Parish—Toronto, Ontario

This reflection based on the readings for the baptism of the Lord—Year C: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 104; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7; and Luke 3:15-16, 21-22.